Customer Reviews

Chester A. Arthur, A Quarter-century Of Machine Politics (History - United States)

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As can be expected for an obscure one term President the books pertaining to Chester A. Arthur, the nation's 21st President, are limited. Besides this now out of print volume by Howe there is also Thomas Reeves' Gentleman Boss which is well reviewed and still in print. My particular copy of this book comes from the Easton Press Library of the Presidents edition and if you are able to find a copy I highly recommend it. This book is a straightforward read and really does a good job at fairly presenting the life of Chester Arthur. There is perhaps no President that made as dramatic a shift as Chester Arthur. An operative of the New York machine under Roscoe Conkling, Arthur was a poster boy for the corrupt system of patronage in the 19th century and was basically added to "balance" James Garfield on the ticket (both geographically and politcally) who was a strong proponent of civil service reform. Following Garfield's assassination Arthur assumed the Presidency and took a much more centrist approach than would have been expected given his past, and much to the dismay of the Conkling machine. While not the most engaging of biographies this 50 year old book does not read as dated as one might expect. It is clearly written and of an appropriate length to adequately provide the reader with all they are likely to care to know about Chester A. Arthur.